Czech is full of colourful idioms, and many involve animals. Some make sense, others... well, you’ll see. Here’s a guide to the most bizarre ones and their origins.
1. "Mít kočičí hlavu" (To have a cat’s head)
This idiom means someone is forgetful or scatterbrained. But why a cat’s head?
2. "Dát někomu za uši" (To give someone behind the ears)
A strange way to say someone is being scolded. The phrase comes from the old practice of pulling a donkey’s ears to make it move - metaphorically ‘motivating’ someone with criticism.
Dát někomu za uši
/daːt ˈɲɛkomu za ˈuʃi/“To reprimand someone”
3. "Jít jako dobytek na porážku" (To go like cattle to slaughter)
A grim but vivid way to describe someone blindly walking into a bad situation. It reflects Czech rural history, where livestock had no idea what awaited them.
- Used for people who follow orders without question.
- Sometimes shortened to just "jít jako dobytek"
4. "Koupit zajíce v pytli" (To buy a hare in a bag)
The Czech version of ‘buying a pig in a poke’ - purchasing something without inspecting it first. Hares were sometimes sold in sacks at markets, leading to... unpleasant surprises.
5. "Myslet si, že je pánem tvorstva" (To think you’re the lord of creation)
A sarcastic dig at someone acting arrogantly. The phrase mocks the biblical idea of humans ruling over animals - ironic, given how often animals outsmart us in Czech idioms.
6. "Přihodit polínko do ohně" (To add a log to the fire)
Not strictly an animal idiom, but often extended to "přihodit psa do ohně" (to throw a dog in the fire), meaning to escalate a conflict. Dark, but effective.
7. "Být jako ryba" (To be like a fish)
Someone silent or uncommunicative. Fish don’t talk - neither do these people.
Být jako ryba
/biːt ˈjakɔ ˈrɪba/“To be tight-lipped”
8. "Mít husí kůži" (To have goose skin)
The Czech version of ‘goosebumps’. Plucked geese have bumpy skin - hence the comparison to shivering from cold or fear.
Czech animal idioms are a mix of rural wisdom, dark humour, and bizarre imagery. For more Czech linguistic quirks, see our articles on beautiful Czech words or Czech diminutives.
